Ponderosa Pine Cone Closeup
This is a Ponderosa Pine cone when fell some time ago. As you can see the cone is wide open and any seeds are gone. If you look closely you can see the sharp points on the tip of each bract. They hurt if you step on them barefooted. You can also see how the dead pine needles form a thin layer under the cone. The needles resist compression so they stay dry and will burn easily.
